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KET · Grammar Basics · United Kingdom

Grammar Basics for the KET Exam — UK candidates

10% of the KET test plan. A2-level grammar: present simple/continuous, past simple, basic modals, articles, and prepositions. Calibrated for British candidates.

Most exam coaching covers the curriculum at the same depth across all topics. That misses the asymmetry of high-stakes testing: a few topics carry disproportionate weight on the score. Grammar Basics sits at roughly 10% of the Cambridge Key English Test (A2) content distribution — Grammar underlies all four A2 Key skills. Common A2 grammar points include: verb tenses (present simple, past simple, present continuous), modals (can, could, should, would), prepositions of place and time, articles (a/an/the), and question formation. Errors in these basic structures drop scores significantly. Pass rates for the KET are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For UK candidates preparing for KET, the calibration of study to local context matters: UK candidates often take exams for both domestic licensure (NMC, GMC) and migration purposes. IELTS UKVI is a separate, higher-stakes track.

Pass rates for KET (United Kingdom) are published periodically by the awarding body.

Common failure modes

These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.

  • !Confusing present simple and present continuous for habitual vs current actions
  • !Missing the third-person singular -s (he go → he goes)
  • !Article errors: using "a" before vowel sounds, missing "the" for specific nouns

Study tips

  • 1Drill the present simple/continuous contrast daily: "I walk to school" (habit) vs "I am walking" (now).
  • 2Memorize the irregular past tenses: go → went, have → had, buy → bought, see → saw.
  • 3Practice the difference between a/an (first mention, general) and the (known, specific, second mention).
  • 4In the UK, KET schedules and reschedules align with state holiday calendars and post-Brexit fee adjustments — confirm pricing on the awarding body's site before booking.

Sample KET Grammar Basics questions

These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real KET questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.

  1. 1

    She _____ TV when her phone rang.

    • Awatches
    • Bwatched
    • Cwas watchingCorrect
    • Dis watching
    Why this answer?

    "Was watching" (past continuous) is correct for an action in progress when another action interrupted it. The interrupting action (phone rang) is in the past simple.

  2. 2

    Can you pass me _____ salt, please?

    • Aa
    • Ban
    • CtheCorrect
    • Dsome
    Why this answer?

    "The salt" is correct — the speaker is referring to a specific salt that both speakers know about (it is on the table). "A" would imply it is not a specific known salt.

Frequently asked questions

How is grammar tested in A2 Key?
Grammar is not tested in isolation in A2 Key — it is assessed through all four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking). The writing tasks (email/note writing) and reading gap-fill questions most directly test grammar accuracy.
What is the KET pass rate for British candidates?
Pass rates for KET candidates in United Kingdom are published periodically by the awarding body. Practice questions, full-length simulations, and weak-area drills are the highest-impact way to improve your odds.
How long should British candidates study Grammar Basics for the KET?
For most candidates, focused mastery of Grammar Basics requires 20–40 hours of deliberate practice — drilling sample questions, reviewing failure modes, and timing yourself against exam conditions. UK candidates often take exams for both domestic licensure (NMC, GMC) and migration purposes. IELTS UKVI is a separate, higher-stakes track. Combine Grammar Basics study with full-length mock exams in the final two weeks before your test date.

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